Carl Schuch was often regarded as perhaps the most famous “unknown” painter of the 19th century. Restless and uncompromising, he dedicated himself entirely to painting, refusing to be confined by national labels. During his lifetime he was barely recognised, yet after his death the quality of his work was acknowledged - before it fell into obscurity once more. Today, his art is considered a true discovery.
The Städel Museum presented around 70 of Schuch’s paintings in dialogue with some 50 important works by French artists such as Paul Cézanne, Camille Corot, Gustave Courbet, Édouard Manet and Claude Monet. At the heart of the exhibition were Schuch’s years in Paris (1882–1894), his most formative creative period, during which he engaged intensively with French painting.
“With Carl Schuch and France, we presented an artist who devoted his entire life to studying French painting. His paintings held their own effortlessly alongside works by Courbet, Manet and Cézanne. This exhibition was much more than a tribute. Carl Schuch’s painting was a discovery.” (Philipp Demandt, Director, Städel Museum)
Leopold Fine Arts was pleased to support this exhibition with several loans.
